Arc System Works are a developer who more likely than not, you’ll think of as a fighting game studio. I wouldn’t blame you, they’re the folks behind Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, all really beloved fighting games. That doesn’t paint a full picture though, and in a showcase held yesterday, they showed off a bunch of upcoming games, some of which they made themselves, others they’re serving as publisher for. And not one fighting game in sight! Which plenty of people made comments about, but I think those people maybe need to play anything other than a fighting game for once.
First up is possibly the most exciting announcement of the bunch, Dear me, I was, a dialogueless interactive adventure game that unfortunately isn’t coming to PC but I need to make mention of. That’s because Taisuke Kanasaki, the director and artist of Hotel Dusk and Another Code, is serving as art director on this project, with Maho Taguchi serving as director. Kanasaki’s art is instantly recogniseable, so I’ve got my fingers tightly crossed it’ll make its way to PC.
There was also a showcase for Double Dragon Revive, a new take on the classic side-scrolling beat-em-up, which is coming to PC for those looking for a dose of nostalgia. Demon’s Night Fever is a currently platformless new stylish seeming “raising speedrun simulation RPG based on the concept of ’embrace being evil'” from Disgaea creator Sohei Niikawa. Kind of obsessed with whatever that explanation is, also hoping this one comes to PC. And there’s a new Bubble Bobble called Sugar Dungeons! Can’t go wrong there, and this one is coming to PC. All of these are being published by Arc System Works.
Then, lastly, there’s Damon and Baby, an isometric action game where you play as a Demon King who’s been cursed to be stuck to a human child, which Arc System Works is developing. Not much of this one was shown off, and again, no platforms were confirmed for this one, but it’s how Guilty Gear creator Daisuke Ishiwatari introduced it that I think is worth highlighting.
Right off the bat he noted how the “game market is tough now. To overcome that, Arc System Works has launched a new project.” He goes on to say how he knows that most people recognise the studio as a fighting game company, but to “achieve a new brand where we are known for quality mid-range action games, we decided to establish a new pillar outside of fighting games.”
He notes how because of the fact that both ends of the AAA blockbuster and indie spectrum can find a lot of success, there’s more risk for companies to create new series. “This has led to dwindling opportunities for young creators to have their own projects. We feel the need to focus our efforts towards the future, a decade from now, such as to build stable development schemes, and to accumulate technology and know-how.”
Ishiwatari points out how Guilty Gear started out as a small-scale project, and has gone on to be a much bigger series. So he hopes that by making more mid-range titles, there’ll be more opportunities for many more games and creators of games.
Quite honestly, hearing something like this is a breath of fresh air. I love an indie game, and I can enjoy the odd AAA title, but nothing gets me going like a mid-range, AA game (looking at you, Remedy). More importantly, attempting to create an environment where younger developers can learn and improve their skills to perhaps one day make something bigger and bolder is ridiculously needed.
With all of the layoffs that have taken place, there’s so many skilled developers being forcefully ousted, leaving little room for junior staff members to come in and work their way up. I’ve got my fingers crossed for Arc System Works’ initiative, and hope to see more of it from other studios too.
